Senator Dino Melaye, a leading opposition figure, has raised alarm on alleged attempts to frame former vice president and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar for financial misdemeanor.
But a civil liberties group, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has cautioned the Federal Government (FG) against arresting Atiku. The group described such a move as lacking in both tact and emotional intelligence.
MURIC, a human rights organization, made this submission in a 3-paragraph statement circulated on Tuesday, 22nd September, 2021 by its Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.
The statement reads in full:
”Senator Dino Melaye, a leading opposition figure, has raised alarm on a
recent attempt to resurrect corruption cases against former vice president and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar (‘Resurrecting the dead’: Melaye slams fresh EFCC petition against Atiku https://pmnewsnigeria.com/2026/09/17/resurrecting-the-dead-melaye-slams-fresh-efcc-petition-against-atiku/).
*”We warn that such an attempt at this point in time will send the wrong signal to Nigerians. With 2027 general elections at the doorsteps, we will like to caution the Federal Government (FG) against such a move. It lacks tact. It is also long in impunity, short in emotional intelligence.*
”At all cost, FG must avoid exhibiting a body language that is likely to portray Nigeria as a banana republic. We lost the ethical ground. What is left for us are our democratic values and norms. Our corporate image in the global community is sinking fast.